Huntsville gazette., 1887-12-24

ineezer meeting house. She had come un-
heralded by any sort of announcement; in
deed, the first intimaton the people had of
any such move was from the young woman
herself when, one Sunday at the close of
services, she stepped behind thetable which
served as pulpit and told them that on the
following morning she would open school
for the benefit of all who desired to learn.
The people of Beasley's Knob were not
openly arrayed against education, still,
among them, learning was not held in high
esteem, the philosophers claiming that
books had had much to do with the causes
which brought about the war, and that no
man Of ssbook rarnin'" had ever been known
to raise a good crop. However, as the
teacher demanded no remuneration, she
was greeted, the first day, with house
nearly full of children. She was not hand
some, but her face was interesting, holding
that indescribable expression of attraction
which comes of a romantic entertainment
of lofty ideas, or rather of settled deter
mination to lead q useful life. She told
the children that her name was Helen
Black, and in few earnest words explained
to them the vital necessity of knowing what
the books, which she had brought with her,
contained.
One afternoon, the second day after Miss
Blake had begun her work, murmur sud
denly arose among the children and boy
called out: ''Bet you a hoss he's comin'
right in here"
"Who is coming in here?" the teacher
asked, looking up in astonishment.
"Long Joliky," the boy replied. "See,
here he is now"
An exceedingly tall man came stumbling
into the house. Miss Blake, upon looking
at the visitor, thought that OF all faces she
had ever seen his was the oldest His
countenance, it seemed, was originally in
tended to be serious, but that just at a
critical moment something comical had Oc-
Cured and spoiled the design. He carried
rife nearly as long as himself and with
one hand he swung bunch of squirrels.
Leaning his rife against the wall, and hold
ing out the game, he approached Miss Blake,
remarking as he did so that he " lowed
mess o. squirrels mout strike her sorter
nachul" The teacher blushed with con-
fusion.
''Really, sir Liam very thankful" she
stammered, ''but | don't know what to do
with them.n
"Don't know what to do with squirrels?
Err hau, hau. Eat 'em O. course, Miss, that's
what folks does with squirrels. Snatch ther
Jackets of an eat EN-"
THE iackets." she asked, not knowing
what she really did say.
.'Lor, nlassy, no. Nevir hearn O. people
eatin squirrels jacket, er hau, hau, Would
as soon think o. eatin' cows hon as a
squirrels jacket. Take 'em, take to ole Miz
Gill's whar yoa boad an I'll bet she knows
how to make fryin' pan siz with 'em."
He put the squirrels on bench, seated
himself beside them, took off his broad
brim straw hat, which Miss Blake noticed
had hickory bark band, and began to fan
himself
sAin't much an sturrin' an it's sorter
wan in the woods" he remarked, and then,
without giving the teacher time to reply,
continued: ''Yes. as you air stranger
here | lowed that it would sorter be the
right caper for me to make you feel at home.
know what it Is to be away from home,
lemme tell you, an thar amt nothin' mo-
! calc'lated to make a pusson step like blind
dog in meat house. How you gittin'
| longm
Every well, thank you.''
Does the little chaps peer to be larnin' a
right smartl'
.'They are doing very well =
"Let me see one O. the books"
She handed him spelling book and after